Spain's political experience was one of the most interesting and extraordinary in the history of modern Europe. It encompassed Portugal, part of Italy, the Netherlands, and large parts of the New World. In the early years of the eighth and ninth centuries, Muslims controlled all of Spain with the exception of some small Christian kingdoms in the north. In the ninth century, the Christian states began a re-conquest to push all the Muslims out. By the middle of the thirteenth century, Granada was all that remained of the Muslims in Spain. The marriage in 1469 of royal cousins, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, eventually brought stability to both kingdoms. Isabella's niece, Juana, had bloodily disputed her succession to the throne in a conflict in which the rival claimants were given assistance by outside powers--Isabella by Aragon and Juana by her suitor, the king of Portugal.
             Both Isabella and Ferdinand understood the importance of unity; together they affected institutional reform in Castile and left Spain one of the best-administered countries in Europe. Ferdinand and Isabella resumed the re-conquest; dormant for more than 200 years, and in 1492 they captured Granada, earning for themselves the title of Catholic Kings. When it comes to the liberating of Spain from the Muslims, I believe that for the stability of the country they were justified in pushing the Muslims out. Having said that, I do have some issues with the massacre of the Jews and the threat of death to get them to convert. Some Jews were given only four months and ordered to leave the kingdom or convert to Christianity. Under the edict, Jews were promised royal "protection and security" for the effective three-month window before the deadline. They were permitted to take their belongings with them - except "gold or silver or minted money". There were a number of the "New Christians" that continued to practice of their fathers in secret, a situation the cl...